Arise

My niece Elizabeth is a great collegiate runner and does well in so many things. She recently shared this video which I found inspiring and a lesson worth continually learning. Thanks to her for sharing it.

Arise and Shine Forth in yet one more way.


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Discipleship

My favorite discussion today resolved around the following - an invitation to deepen our discipleship 

Learn of me, and listen to my words; walk in the meekness of my Spirit, and you shall have peace in me. I am Jesus Christ; I came by the will of the Father, and I do his will. 

Doctrine & Covenants 19:23-24 

• Learn of Jesus Christ through diligence and depth in studying the scriptures, by coming to His Temple, by faithfully praying daily, by applying the healing powers of the atonement in your life as you forgive and repent.
• Listen to the words of the Savior by fine tuning your ability to receive personal revelation, by listening to the revelation coming from the lips of His chosen prophets and apostles, and by learning from inspired Ward teachers.
• Walk in the meekness of His Spirit by daily striving to be like him, by keeping your sacred covenants with exactness and honor, and by serving one another.
• Receive the "peace of God which passeth all understanding" - having the peace that comes from learning, listening and walking will strengthen our connection with heaven and will help us to put off the natural man so we can become men and women of Christ.  It will help us to live life with greater joy and greater abundance. 

The above are the guidelines to creating  your story of discipleship. Each day we have the decision of 

what is the role of the savior in authoring our story. With our children we need to help guide them as they learn to write their own stories. As in this statue (from nauvoo)

Inviting our children to progress with out stretched hands able to catch when they fall;ready to support when needed but letting them learn as they Learn, Listen, Walk, and Receive just as we have and do.

Grilling Season

We officially opened the grilling season this afternoon.

The deck had snow on it. The grill cover was covered in snow but we felt the need. Actually, one of the more winterish days of this unseasonably warm winters - snow, cold wind, low temperatures. Nonetheless, we gathered for burgers and hotdogs off-the-grill; winter is a mindset.

the gathering

robert & laura

Lunch was followed by dipping berries.

joseph was more into licking cream than eating berries

kate won the moustache contest

the berry beginnings

A delightful Saturday afternoon meal.

Puzzled

The entire jigsaw puzzle journey i think is symbolic of LaRinda. She learns from trying to fit each piece into a complete picture. She make mistakes, she ponders, she thinks, she solves. She works persistently at the task, she catches the big vision, she executes the vision, and at night she can go to sleep feeling happy and satisfied she progressed.

Today, LaRinda finally completed the jigsaw 3,000 piece puzzle. When she put the last piece in place, she had closure on yet another completed vision, of a job well-done, of patience in seeing a task successfully through to the end. 

Now to repaint that next bedroom?

Singing Once Again

Back in December we wrote of Evan's BYU singing adventure and wouldn't you know now  he is in the second semester of Choir. They sang today at the BYU Devotional which can be found here (as long as the link is live).

I was noticing an advertisement on my phone today for a new Where's Waldo App; which made me think as I watched the choir sing that I could develop an app for the choir called - where is the monitor displaying the program.

But I digress. What a great opportunity. Rindy talked with Evan right after the program and he was brimful with excitement and pride of his accomplishment.

Happy Valentine's Day!

To my valentine

This Valentine is not a poem because I'm not into that corny stuff.
I love you with no rhyme or reason.

Everyone Needs a Friend

"Every one of them needs three things: a friend, a responsibility, and nurturing with 'the good word of God"

I do not think it is coincidental that this famous trifecta from Gordon B Hinckley leads off with the need of a friend. One of many online definitions of a friend proposes that a friend is- a person who gives assistance; a patron; a supporter. Few can receive or send higher praise than labeling one a friend. and if Lincoln is to be believed: "The better part of one's life consists of his Friendships."  And in candor I believe there are various levels of friendship, rooted in the degree of confidence in which you can place one another. 

Evan will be finishing his schooling years and BYU this coming spring and searching a "career", as he labels it has become a preoccupation  of ours of late/ At each cross road in Evan's life we have looked ahead with a degree of trepidation and challenge as we ponder - " how can it top what has just happened?" And thinking it over this weekend , I have once again come to the conclusion that it has had less to do with the "place" or the "circumstances" within which evan has found himself. And it has depended more and defined more by the people with whom he has been surrounded. It is easy to praise Brigham and Stuart for what they have meant to Evan's success in navigating college life , and I have noted that here before; but it goes beyond , around , and before, and hopefully after  them including a host of "friends" of various degrees (and yes angels would also be categorized as friends). Not all have been friends who you would call to come over and help you in the middle of the night; not all have been friends that you could spend 30 minutes sitting chatting on a couch; not all have been friends that you could just hang silently together with - but many have been friends that have - lent a listening ear, shared a meal with, laughed with , danced with him, sung with him, played soccer-football- volleyball- wrestling - basketball with him, shared an FHE, shared a tent, shared time - love - laughs. There are so many to thank in so many ways in which they have been a friend. How will we ever find another friend to add and build on the past.

Yesterday in a church meeting they shared in more depth, the following story of Dayton and Spencer. I cried as I watched it for I watched  and saw Evan and so many of his friends. May we all chose to be the "dayton's legs" to the daytons who cross our paths.

may we chose to be a friend to those who sorely need a friend not just being a friend to those it is easy, or those who we need to have as friends for ourselves.

Chicago visitor

headed downtown to chicago today for work.

They rotate in LARGE pieces of art.

MM is the current.

Superbowl Ads

Even if it was part of what I do for a living I would enjoy watching good commercials. i actually also enjoy the bad-ones; it gives me hope that there is still a place for me in the market of marketing. To a group of friends I already declared my age by enjoying Clint Eastwood and "Half-time in america"



it has been interesting to read how this Superbowl has been the conquering of social media over traditional media as the winner. That said some of you might need a primer to understand social media - so for you

Looks who is growing

We ran up to Watertown Saturday afternoon to sit and chat, share a meal, and play a game.
I wasn't in a big picture taking mode but had to take at least one of June B.

Superbowl Sunday

Well we had some neighbors over after church today for the superbowl - no not that one - this one

We had a great cousin gathering , though a few were under the weather and unable to attend. And even though we kicked -off at 5:30pm the television was never on.  Must admit when we eat truffle our hearts always kindly turn and think of - P3. The gathering was enjoyable

Singing

Mom goes through her ebbs and flows.Lately when I've spoken with her on the phone she has been in great form.

I know one thing she loves is visits from these girls and singing with them.

She shares it with me when we talk and now the video

Neighborhood Ninja

One interesting aspect of living in an older neighborhood is older, larger trees and their resident squirrels. This morning I took a quick walk downtown to the library and had the temerity to walk past the neighborhood ninja.  I walked within a foot of him as he circled his low hanging branch - keeping his eye on me, assuring himself he was hidden; Reminding me of the boys when they were little, sitting on the family room floor with their hands over their heads - declaring you can't see me I'm hiding. Ninja squirrels indeed.